Sound synchronized animation mechanism that utilizes electromagnetics

ABSTRACT

An animation system for animating parts of a toy figure. A toy figure is provided that has movable parts. A magnet is attached to one part. An electromagnet is attached to an opposing part of the toy figure opposite the magnet. The electromagnet creates an electromagnetic field when activated that interacts with the magnetic mass and causes movement between the parts that support the electromagnet and the magnet. The movement of the parts animate the toy figure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to animation mechanisms used to animate the eyes and mouth of a toy figure, such as a doll. More particularly, the present invention relates to animation mechanisms that synchronize animation movements to sound signals.

2. Prior Art Description

Toy figures, such as dolls, are one of the earliest toys and have been in existence throughout recorded history. In this very long period of time, toy characters have been created in countless shapes and styles. Toy figures have also been fitted with many secondary features that are intended to increase the play value of the toy.

One way to increase the play value of a toy figure is to add animation to the toy figure. Animation can be added to a toy figure in many different ways. In early times, toy figures have been turned into marionettes by tying strings to the toy figure. Toy figures have also been turned into puppets by hollowing the body of the toy figure, thereby making room for a child's hand.

In a modern toy figure, animation is typically added to the toy figure using a gearbox and actuator arms that are coupled to the gearbox. The gearbox may be powered by an electric motor. However, gearboxes are also often powered by wind-up springs or pull strings.

In many toy figures, animation mechanisms are often used to move the eyes, mouth, body and/or limbs of the figure. When animation mechanisms are used to move the mouth of a toy figure, it is typically done so to make the toy doll look as though it is talking or singing. Such toy dolls often contain voice synthesizers that broadcast words as the animation mechanism moves the mouth. In this manner, the toy figure both looks and sounds as if it were talking or singing.

When a child plays with an animated toy, it is likely that the child will touch the animated parts and try to stop the animated part from moving. This applies resistance to the designed movement of the animation mechanism. It is for this reason that traditional gearbox animation mechanisms require gearboxes that are bulky and strong. The gearboxes have to use substantial gear combinations and strong actuator arms to prevent the animation mechanism from quickly breaking when its movement is resisted. Accordingly, gearbox animation mechanisms tend to be large, expensive and heavy. When such an animation mechanism is used to animate the mouth of a toy doll, the bulky gearbox is typically located in the head of the toy figure. This makes the head of the toy figure bulky and heavy, which is a detriment for many different figure designs.

As toy figures began to be made with synthesized voices and mouth animation, toy designers began to synchronize the mouth animation with the words/sounds that were being broadcast. Such prior art animation systems are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,704 to Akiyama, entitled Movable Sound Producing Model, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,328 to Mirahem, entitled Talking Doll. In both prior art patents, a large bulky gearbox mechanism is present within the head of the toy figure. The gearbox is coupled to a controller that synchronizes the activation of the gearbox to audible sounds.

Not all toy figures have a head space large enough or strong enough to hold and support a bulky gearbox. In the prior art, animation has also been created using smaller electric solenoids. The activation of the solenoids required complex logic controls. Accordingly, the toy figure has to be coupled to an external computer. In this manner, all the logic circuitry and control software is kept external to the toy figure. Such prior art animated toy figures are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,431 to Maa, entitled Computer Controlled Talking Figure Toy With Animated Features, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0148279 to Maa, entitled Digitally Synchronized Animated Talking Doll.

The disadvantages of having a toy that must be coupled to an external computer are obvious. In both cited prior art examples, the toy figure can only be animated when coupled to a computer that is currently running the appropriate animation software. The toy figures, therefore, must remain in the vicinity of the computer in order to operate.

A need therefore exists for an animation mechanism that is self-contained, lightweight, small and creates animation that is synchronized to audible sounds. In this manner, sound synchronized animation can be added to small toys and lightweight toys, such as balloon toys, without adverse effects. Such a need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an animation system for animating parts of a toy figure or other novelty item. The system starts with a toy figure or novelty item having movable parts, such as a mouth with opposing jaw elements. A magnetic mass is attached to one part. The magnetic mass is preferably a magnet, but also may be a segment of ferromagnetic material.

An electromagnet is attached to an opposing part of the toy figure opposite the magnetic mass. The electromagnet creates an electromagnetic field when activated that interacts with the magnetic mass and causes movement between the parts that support the electromagnet and the magnetic mass. The movement of the parts animate the toy figure.

The animation is dependent upon the activation of the electromagnet. The electromagnet is preferably automatically activated by sound energy. The toy figure may have a speaker that broadcasts audio signals or a microphone that receives audio signals. In either scenario the audio signals are directed to a control circuit. The control circuit controls the activation and deactivation of the electromagnet. When the control circuit receives an audio signal above a certain threshold, the control circuit activates the electromagnet for the duration of that signal. Accordingly, the control circuit will activate and deactivate the electromagnet in synchronization with the peaks and lulls in the audio signal. The result is animation motion that is synchronized to the audio signals being transmitted or received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention animation system;

FIG. 2 shows a toy figure's head containing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention animation system;

FIG. 3 shows a balloon character containing an alternate embodiment of the present invention animation system;

FIG. 4 shows the tail section of a toy dog figure being animated by the present invention animation system; and

FIG. 5 shows a greeting card having moving parts that are moved by the present invention animation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention can be used to animate many objects, such as the wings of a toy bird or the tail of a toy dog, it is primarily intended to animate the mouth of a toy figure. Accordingly, in the primary exemplary embodiment of the present invention animation system, it is shown in use as animating the mouth of a toy figure. Such an exemplary embodiment is presented as one of the best modes contemplated for the invention but should not be considered a limitation.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic of the present invention animation system 10. The animation system 10 utilizes a pivoting lever 12. The pivoting lever 12 has a first section 14, a second section 16 and a fulcrum point 18 between the first section 14 and the second section 16. A spring 20 contacts the lever 12 in the first section 14. The spring 20 supplies a bias force to the first section 14 of the lever 12. The bias force can be the spring 20 either pressing upon the lever 12 or pulling upon the lever 12. It will therefore be understood that the spring 20 biases the first section 14 of the lever 12 either downwardly or upwardly. Alternatively, the spring 20 may hold the lever 12 in a set position, wherein the spring 20 resists any upward or downward movement of the lever 12.

A strong rare earth magnet 22, such as a neodymium magnet, is connected to the second section 16 of the lever 12. The rare earth magnet 22 is oriented so that either its positive pole or its negative pole faces upwardly. This provides a uniform pole facing upwardly.

An electromagnet 24 is supported either above or below the rare earth magnet 22. In the shown schematic, the electromagnet 24 is shown above the rare earth magnet 22, by way of example. When the electromagnet 24 is not activated, it has little effect on the rare earth magnet 22. However, when the electromagnet 24 is energized, the electromagnet 24 will either strongly attract or strongly repel the rare earth magnet 22. When the electromagnet 24 is energized, the electromagnet 24 creates an electromagnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field of the rare earth magnet 22. If the electromagnet 24 is energized so that the bottom of the electromagnet 24 has the same polarity as the top of the rare earth magnet 22, then the fields repel. If the polarity at the bottom of the electromagnet 24 is the opposite as that of the top of the rare earth magnet 22, then the fields attract.

If the electromagnet 24 attracts the rare earth magnet 22, then the second section 16 of the lever 12 pivots upwardly. Conversely, if the electromagnet 24 repels the rare earth magnet 22, then the second section 16 of the lever 12 pivots downwardly. By selectively moving the lever 12 in such a manner, the lever 12 can be caused to move up and/or down in a controlled manner.

The electromagnet 24 is coupled to a controller 26. The controller 26 regulates the flow of current to the electromagnet 24. As such, it will be understood that the controller 26 selectively turns the electromagnet 24 on and off, depending upon operating circumstances.

The electrical current needed to activate the electromagnet 24 is provided by batteries 28. An on/off switch 29 is also provided to deactivate the entire automation system 10 when desired.

An audio driver 30 is also provided. The audio driver 30 is coupled to a speaker 32. The sound synthesizer produces audio signals. The audio signals may be prerecorded in a read only memory (ROM) or can be actively recorded in a random access memory (RAM). It will be understood that if audio signals are to be interactively recorded, the animation system would also contain a microphone, which is not shown in this embodiment.

The output of the audio driver 30 is sampled by the controller 26. Whenever the controller 26 detects an audio signal over a certain threshold value, the controller 26 activates the electromagnet 24 for the duration of that signal. It will therefore be understood that when audio signals are being broadcast through the speaker 32, the electromagnet 24 will pulse on and off in synchronization with the signal peaks and lulls that are contained in the audio signal.

Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it can be seen that the present invention animation system 10 is readily adaptable to the head 34 of a toy FIG. 36. In the shown embodiment, the head 34 of the toy FIG. 36 has an articulating lower jaw 38. The articulating lower jaw 38 embodies the previously described lever 12 of the animation system 10.

The audio driver 30 and controller 26 of the animation system 10 can be designed into one or more microchips 40. The microchips are set on only a small circuit board 42. The batteries 28 and speaker 32 of the animation system 10 are also set into the same circuit board 42. The circuit board 42 is small and light weight. Accordingly, it can readily be set into the head cavity of many toy figures.

The electromagnet 24 can be attached to the circuit board 42 or may extend away from the circuit board 42, as is illustrated. The electromagnet 24 is set into the head 34 in the region that would serve as the upper jaw of the mouth 44. The articulated lower jaw 38 contains the rare earth magnet 22 and spring 20. The rare earth magnet 22 is set into the articulated lower jaw 38 directly below the electromagnet 24.

It will be understood that as the speaker 32 broadcasts words, the electromagnet 24 will pulse on and off. The articulated lower jaw 38 will therefore rise and fall in synchronization with the broadcast words. The mouth 44 movement of the toy FIG. 36 will be synchronized with the synthesized words broadcast by the toy FIG. 36.

The size of the electromagnet 24 and the rare earth magnet 22 are directly proportional to the size and mass of the articulated lower jaw 38. A large, heavy lower jaw requires a large electromagnet and a strong rare earth magnet. A lightweight lower jaw does not.

Since the articulated lower jaw 38 is moved using nothing but magnetic fields, there is no gearbox or other mechanical assembly required to create the movement. As a consequence, the movement of the articulated lower jaw 38 can be resisted or stopped by the touch of a child without any damage to the animation system 10.

The electromagnet 24 and the rare earth magnet 22 can be made to be very small and very lightweight. Referring to FIG. 3, a balloon head 50 is shown. The balloon head 50 is filled with helium and is therefore lighter than air. In this embodiment, a thin, lightweight card 52 is provided. The card 52 contains a central fold 54. Both the electromagnet 24 and the rare earth magnet 22 are supported by the card 52 on opposite sides of the fold 54.

The card 52 is placed inside a balloon. A small dab of adhesive 56 near the central fold 54 of the card 52 is used to join the card 52 to an internal surface of the balloon head 50.

The circuitry, batteries and microphone of the animation system can be attached to the card 52. However, in the shown embodiment, these elements are contained in an assembly 58 that is external to the balloon head 50. The electromagnet 24 inside the balloon head 50 is connected to the external assembly 58 with lead wires 59 that pass through a plug 60 in the stem of the balloon head 50.

When the animation system is activated, the electromagnet 24 pulses in synchronization with broadcast words. As the electromagnet 24 pulses, the electromagnet 24 either attracts or repels the rare earth magnet 22. This causes the card 52 to open and close. Since the card 52 is attached to the balloon head 50, the balloon head 50 appears to have a mouth 62 that is talking.

In the previous embodiments, the present invention animation system is used to create mouth movement in some form of a figure's head. It will be understood that the present invention animation system can also be used to create other movements, such as movements in a character's eyes or limbs. Referring now to FIG. 4, such an alternate embodiment is shown.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the tail section 72 of a toy dog FIG. 70 is shown. The tail section 72 is connected to the lever 74 of the animation system. As such, the tail section 72 contains the rare earth magnet 22. The rare earth magnet 22 is positioned across from a stationary electromagnet 24. The lever 74 is pivoted. As such, when the electromagnet 24 is activated, the lever 74 moves, therein causing the tail section 72 of the toy dog FIG. 70 to wag.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a microphone 76 is present, rather than a speaker. The microphone 76 is coupled to a controller 26 for the electromagnet 24. When the microphone 76 detects a sound above a predetermined threshold, the microphone 76 causes the controller 26 to activate the electromagnet 24 for the duration of that sound. In this manner, the tail section 72 of the toy dog FIG. 70 will wag when a person speaks to the toy dog FIG. 70. Similarly, the tail section 72 of the toy dog FIG. 70 will wag when music is played, wherein the tail section 72 will wag in synchronization to the music.

In all of the embodiments thus presented for the present invention animation system, the system has been used to animate part of a three dimensional object, such as a doll, balloon or stuffed animal. It should be understood that the present invention animation system can be miniaturized an can therefore be utilized to animate generally two-dimensional objects, such as greeting cards, playing cards, printed pictures and magazine advertisements.

Referring to FIG. 5, one such alternate embodiment is shown. In FIG. 5, a greeting card blank 80 is shown. The greeting card blank 80 has a front cover 82 and a back cover 84. A flap 86 is provided. An electronics module 88 is provided. The electronics module 88 is small and thin and contains the previously described electronic components of the invention. The electronics module 88 contains an activation switch 89 that activated the electronics module 88 when the greeting card blank 80 is opened. The electromagnet 24 is mounted to the back cover 84 of the greeting card blank 80 below the flap 86.

A small rare earth magnet 24 is attached to the flap 86. It will therefore be understood that when the electromagnet 24 is activated it can attract and repulse the rare earth magnet 22, thereby causing the flap 86 to wave back and forth.

The greeting card blank 80 can be printed with a person who waves, a batter who swings a bat, or any other printed pop-up used in cards. There exist countless paper pop-up configurations that have been used in cards and books. The present invention animation system provides a way to cause automated animation in any such pop-up design.

If will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that have been illustrated are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those shown embodiments. For instance, the present invention animation system can be used to animate many things other than a figure's mouth or tail. Furthermore, although preferred, the animation provided by the invention need not be synchronized to transmitted or received sounds. Al such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. In a figure head having a discernable mouth defined between opposing jaw elements, an animation system, comprising: an electromagnet supported by a first of said opposing jaw elements; a magnetic mass supported by a second of said opposing jaw elements; wherein said electromagnet creates an electromagnetic field when activated that interacts with said magnetic mass and causes movement between said opposing jaw elements.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnet is selectively activated by audio signals.
 3. The system according to claim 1, further including an audio driver for creating audio signals.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said electromagnet activates when said audio signals surpass a predetermined threshold.
 5. The system according to claim 4, further including a speaker for broadcasting said audio signals.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein one of said opposing jaws is fixed in position and a second of said opposing jaws is moveable about a pivot.
 7. The system according to claim 6, further including a spring that contacts said second of said opposing jaws, therein biasing said second of said opposing jaws into a set position.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic mass is a magnet.
 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said magnet has a uniform pole facing said electromagnet.
 10. The system according to claim 1, further including batteries for providing electric current and a controller for selectively controlling flow of said electric current to said electromagnet.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said controller and said batteries are coupled to a common circuit board within said figure head.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said figure head is an inflated balloon.
 13. A system for creating sound synchronized animation in a novelty object, said system comprising: two opposing elements, wherein at least one of said opposing elements is moveable relative the other and wherein movement of at least one of said opposing element causes animation in said novelty object; a magnetic mass coupled to a second of said opposing elements; an electromagnet coupled to a first of said opposing elements, wherein said electromagnet interacts with said magnetic mass and causes movement between said opposing elements when activated; a speaker that broadcast sound signals; and a controller coupled to said electromagnet that activates said electromagnet when said sound signals surpass a predetermined threshold level.
 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said novelty object has a mouth and wherein said mouth is disposed between said opposing elements, therein animating said mouth.
 15. The system according to claim 13, further including a spring that contacts said second of said opposing jaws, therein biasing said second of said opposing jaws into a set position.
 16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said magnetic mass is a magnet.
 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said magnet has a uniform pole facing said electromagnet.
 18. A method of creating sound synchronized animation in a novelty object, said method comprising the step of: providing an electromagnet; providing a magnetic mass that interacts with said electromagnet when said electromagnet is activated; positioning said electromagnet and said magnet mass on opposing elements that are part of said novelty object; providing an audio driver within said toy figure that produces audio signals; providing a speaker on said toy figure that broadcasts said audio signals; and controlling said electromagnet with said audio signals, wherein said electromagnet activates when said audio signals surpass a predetermined threshold level, therein creating animation that is at least in part synchronized with said audio signals.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said novelty object has a mouth and said animation causes movement in said mouth. 